Gillard welcomes Pope’s ‘historic’ election

Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
has welcomed the election of Argentinian Cardinal
Jorge Mario Bergoglio
as the new Pope, congratulating the Catholic Church for electing a leader from the “New World".

“The Australian government congratulates Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, on his election this morning as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church," Ms Gillard said.

“The election of a Pope from the ‘New World’ is an occasion of genuinely historic proportions. Today is an exciting day for Australian Catholics and perhaps especially for Australians of Argentinian descent. My thoughts are with them all."

Foreign Minister
Bob Carr
described the Pope’s election as “a tremendous day for Latin Americans".

“Popes surprise us, they surprise the world by the course they chart. The Pope is certainly an interesting choice . . . the first Jesuit pope, the first from Latin America," he said.

Federal Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
called the Pope’s election “a great day for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics".

“He has lived in a simple apartment, takes the bus to work, cooks simple meals for himself. He is a holy and simple man who has practised what he preached," Mr Abbott said.